U.S. Transportation Secretary Norman Y. Mineta today welcomed Mary Peters as the new
administrator for the U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Highway Administration (FHWA).
The Senate confirmed Peters on Sept. 26, and she was sworn in today.

"Mary's long experience as a top state transportation official, coupled with her
proven record of leadership and managerial skills, will be great assets at the FHWA and
the Department of Transportation," Secretary Mineta said. "She will help to
lead our continuing efforts to improve safety and security, reduce congestion and enhance
mobility on our nation's highways."

Peters, who rose through the ranks to become the leader of the Arizona Department of
Transportation, is now the nation's top highway official as the 15th administrator of the FHWA.

"I am honored to be selected by President Bush and privileged to join the strong
team that Secretary Mineta has assembled at USDOT," Peters said. "Working with
our state and local partners, all of us at FHWA will continue our efforts to develop and
maintain a strong, safe and modern transportation network, which is essential to America's
security and prosperity in the 21st century."

In addition to her work in Arizona, Peters has been involved in transportation issues
at the national level. She recently chaired the Standing Committee on Planning and the
Asset Management Task Force for the American Association of State Highway and Transportation
Officials (AASHTO) and hosted the 2001 meeting of the Western Association of State Highway
Transportation Officials.

Peters served on the board of directors for ITS America, the Arizona Quality Alliance,
Women Executives in State Government, and Project Challenge, an arm of the National Guard
helping troubled teens become productive citizens. She also chaired the Highway Expansion
Loan Program Advisory Board and was a member of the Greater Arizona Development Authority
as well as the Governor's Diversity Advisory Council. In addition, she was a member of the
Arizona governor's Growing Smarter Commission, the governor's CANAMEX task force, and the
governor's Transportation Vision for the 21st Century task force.

Peters, a fourth-generation, native Arizonan, holds a bachelor's degree from the University
of Phoenix and attended Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government Program for
State and Local Government Executives. She and her husband, Terry, have three grown children.